The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
A.
Isaiah 14:28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
Isaiah 15:1 The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
Isaiah 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
of Babylon
Isaiah 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Isaiah 21:1-10 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land…
Isaiah 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
which Isaiah
Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
that Isaiah son of Amoz received
Isaiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, was active during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. His father, Amoz, is not widely known outside of his connection to Isaiah, but the mention of his lineage underscores the authenticity and historical grounding of the prophet. Isaiah's role was to convey God's messages to His people, often involving both immediate and future implications. The phrase "received" indicates that this message was divinely given, not a product of human invention. Isaiah's prophecies often contain messianic elements, pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, who would ultimately fulfill God's plan of redemption and judgment.
• “Burden” signals a weighty, solemn message that God lays on His prophet. The same word frames other judgment oracles, such as “An oracle concerning Moab” (Isaiah 15:1) and “The burden against Nineveh” (Nahum 1:1).
• The word reminds readers that prophecy is never light entertainment; it carries divine authority and accountability. Compare Amos 3:8—“The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?”.
• In practical terms, this label alerts us that the passage will unveil God’s just judgment and righteous character. As Hebrews 10:31 observes, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.
• Isaiah names the object of the judgment up front: Babylon. While Babylon was not yet the world power it would become under Nebuchadnezzar, God speaks of its downfall decades before its rise, underscoring His sovereignty over history (Isaiah 46:9-10).
• The prophecy has both near-term and far-reaching layers.
– Near term: Medo-Persia would overthrow historical Babylon, fulfilling Isaiah 13:17 and Daniel 5:30-31.
– Far reaching: Revelation 17-18 takes up Babylon as the symbol of end-time rebellion that God will finally crush, showing the consistency of God’s plan from Isaiah to the New Testament.
• By singling out Babylon, God also addresses every human system that exalts itself against Him. Jeremiah 50-51 echoes this theme, reminding us that earthly empires rise and fall, but “the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and everlasting King” (Jeremiah 10:10).
• The verse anchors the oracle in real history and a real prophet. Isaiah’s ministry spanned the reigns of Uzziah through Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1), rooting the message in an identifiable timeframe.
• “Received” stresses revelation rather than invention. Isaiah did not craft a political commentary; he was entrusted with God’s own words, much like the prophets who “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
• This reception carries responsibility. Ezekiel 33:7-9 illustrates the watchman principle: when God gives a warning, the recipient must pass it on. Isaiah’s obedience models faithful stewardship of divine truth.
Isaiah 13:1 introduces a heavy, God-given message announcing Babylon’s ultimate downfall. The verse underscores three truths: God’s oracles are weighty and authoritative, His judgments target proud human systems embodied in Babylon, and He entrusts His servants with revelation that must be faithfully delivered. The verse invites believers to respect the certainty of God’s word, recognize His control over the rise and fall of nations, and follow Isaiah’s example of obedient proclamation.
XIII.(1) The burden of Babylon . . .--The title "burden," which is repeated in Isaiah 15:1; Isaiah 17:1; Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 21:1; Isaiah 22:1; Isaiah 23:1, indicates that we have in this division a collection of prophetic utterances, bearing upon the future of the surrounding nations, among which Babylon was naturally pre-eminent. The authenticity of the first of these oracles has been questioned, partly on the ground of differences of style, partly because it seems to anticipate the future destruction of Babylon with a distinctness which implies a prophecy after the event. The first of these objections rests, as will be seen from the numerous coincidences between these and other portions of Isaiah, on no sufficient evidence. The second implies a view of prophecy which excludes the element of a divinely given foreknowledge; and that view the present writer does not accept. . . .
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